Unconventional new high-riding Liberty sedan variant coming to Australia later this year.

Subaru's off-road sedan

Subaru is once again going against convention, confirming it will add a high-riding sedan to its Liberty model line-up.

The new Liberty sedan model will play a role similar to the Outback wagon, with better off-road capability and chunkier styling, but Subaru Australia says it won’t wear the Outback badge.

The car rides 60mm higher than the regular Liberty sedan, and features a new grille similar to the maker’s recent XV compact off-roader, flared wheel arches, different bumpers and 18-inch wheels.

Inside it gets black metal-look finishes on the centre console and relocated switches and park brake button. These design tweaks should also flow to the rest of the Liberty range when it’s updated late in 2012.

Subaru says that as well as being better equipped to tackle Australia’s challenging road conditions, the new model should appeal to older buyers as the new model’s hip-point is 70mm higher – making ingress and egress less challenging.

Subaru Liberty sedan model

Subaru Australia managing director Nick Senior says the car’s extra height should make it appealing to buyers in regional and rural areas.

“Only two markets in the world – Australia and China – are getting this new variant, recognising some of the unique road conditions experienced in both countries,” Senior says. “It is still an enlightening statistic that around 60 per cent of our roads are unsealed.”

The car will still be built in Japan, and will be offered with both the 2.5-litre and 3.6-litre “boxer” engines.

Subaru Liberty sedan model

Further details including pricing, specification and the name of the new variant will be confirmed later this year.